Fbedebiok w



(No Model.)

P. W. HOFPMANN.

BUCKLE. v No. 387,881. Patented Aug. 14, 1888.

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UNITED STATES PATEN Fries.

FREDERICK W. HOFFMANN, on NEW YORK, Y.

BUCKLE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 387,881, dated August 14, 1889.

Application filed June 11, 1888. Serial No. 276,711.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FREDERICK W. Horr- MANN, of New York city, New York, have invented a new and Improved Buckle, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to an improved buckle for suspenders and similar articles, that will firmly clasp the strap without injuring it.

The invention consists in the various features of improvement, more fully pointed out in the claim.

In the accompanying drawings,Fignre l is a face View of my improved buckle. Fig. 2 is a back view thereof. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section on line cc m, Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a face view of a modification. Fig. 5 is a back view of Fig. 4; and Fig. 6, a longitudinal section on line y y, Fig. 4.

Vith particular reference to Figs. 1 to 3, the letter a represents the frame of the buckle. This frame is made with one transverse slit and with four (more or less) longitudinal slits entering the transverse slit. Thus the frame is provided with a series of springarms, b b, formed on the bar c of the frame. These springarnis have curved ends, as shown in The bar 0 of the buckle-frame opposite the detached ends of the arms I) is turned inward to form the beveled edge 0', as also shown in Fig. 3. The sides of the bnckleframe a are turned up at right angles to form bearings d (No model.)

for the tongue 6 of the buckle, such tongue being made in one piece with its pivots. The tongue is made of the usual cam shape, and when closed bears against the spring-arms b. The strap f of the snspender or other article is passed between tongue and frame, as usual, and owing to the use of the spring-arms it will be tightly clasped without the use of teeth on the tongue. Thus the strap is not liable to be torn or cut. The beveled edge a prevents slipping of the strap, and, in fact, the greater the amount of strain on the strap the more tightly it will be grasped by the buckle. One advantage of this construction is also that the entire buckle is made out of but two pieces.

In Figs. 4 to 6 I have shown but one springarm I), in lieu of three such arms. This modification is designed for use in the support of 50 sleeves, drawers, stockings, and similar articles.

\Vhat I claim is- The combination of a longitudinally and transversely slotted frame, a, having an inwardlyturned edge, 0', and provided with curved arms I), formed on its bar 6-, with the tongue 6, pivoted to the frame and hearing against the arms I), substantially as specified.

F. V, HOFFMABTN.

Witncsses:

ALFRED J ONGHMAUS, F. v. BRIESEN. 

